A group of people in Hithadhoo, Addu City, have set fire to the allegedly “idolatrous” Pakistani monument erected for the SAARC summit in the early hours of the morning.
Police Sub-Inspector Ahmed Shiyam confirmed that the incident occurred before dawn today, and the perpetrators escaped before police arrived at the scene.
It is believed that the group threw objects lit with petrol and burnt one side of the monument, Shiyam explained, adding that no arrests have been made yet and police are investigating the act of arson.
According to an eyewitness in the Hithadhoo Power Park restaurant last night, which is located next to the monument, a group of people first attempted to torch the monument using petrol around 11pm.
However, their attempts were unsuccessful and the fires were quickly put out by Hithadhoo residents at the area.
Meanwhile, two young men who toppled the monument during an earlier protest led by members of opposition parties last Wednesday remain in custody, facing charges of damage to private property.
The protesters contended that the monument featured “idols and objects of worship” and demanded it be taken down.
The monument, which features engraved symbols of ancient civilisation of Pakistan and a bust of the country’s founder Mohamed Ali Jinah, had been removed by the Addu City Council last Tuesday night but was replace back on its plinth with a cover ahead of Thursday’s unveiling ceremony.
Monuments representing the eight SAARC nations were erected across Addu City and unveiled by heads of state and government during the summit.
A large crowd of Hithadhoo residents gathered for the official unveiling by Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, after which they took photographs in front of the monument.
A member of the Pakistani delegation at the unveiling ceremony explained to Minivan
News that the monument represented artifacts of the ancient Indus Valley civilisation and were not specifically religious symbols.
Following the first attempt to vandalise the monument, a second member of the Pakistani delegation told Minivan News that they approached the Foreign Ministry over the incident but was informed by an official that it had not occurred, and was a rumour spread by the opposition.
Foreign Minister Ahmed Naseem said yesterday that the delegation had not expressed concern to the Foreign Ministry, and noted that besides prosecuting those responsible for the damage, there was “little we can do.”
The attacks on the monument, said Naseem, had been instigated by people with “strange ideas”. He observed that there were statues of Buddhas in the National Museum in Male’. “Some people are not happy, but I’m not too excited about it,” he said.
“Illegal”
Hithadhoo Councillor Hussein Hilmy explained that the monument was “designed and built by Pakistan”, and that the City Council had helped erect the monument.
Islamic Minister Dr Abdul Majeed Abdul Bari was not responding at time of press and officials at the ministry did not respond to inquiries today. Bari however told local media last week that the monument was “illegal” as it “represented objects of worship of other religions.”
Bari said he had discussed the matter with the Pakistani High Commission and requested it be taken down at the end of the summit.
Meanwhile, Adhaalath Party President Sheikh Imran Abdulla told Minivan News today that the monument “should not be kept on Maldivian soil for a single day” and “should be removed immediately.”
“We believe it conflicts with the constitution of the Maldives, the Religious Unity Act of 1994 and the regulations under the Act,” he said.
The monument was “illegal” because it depicted “objects of worship” that “denied the oneness of God,” he explained.
Imran contended that the engravings on the monument represented objects of worship for “a lot of other religions.”
The religious conservative party has asked the Prosecutor General’s Office today to take legal action, he revealed.
In a statement condemning the “idolatrous” monument, the Adhaalath Party’s Hithadhoo branch claimed that “no Maldivian of sound mind” would allow idols or iconography of other religions to be erected in the country.
The Pakistani monument was “part of efforts by adversaries of Islam to turn the faith that Maldivians embraced 900 years ago upside down,” the statement reads.
The party noted that under section six of the religious unity regulations, public displays of “symbols or slogans belonging to a religion other than Islam” were illegal, and called on those responsible for erecting the monuments to be “brought before the law protecting religious unity.”
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I don't get it. They say there's only one God and one religion. So why do they care about some artifacts. Doesn't make sense.
"Believers, do not say bad words against the idols lest they (pagans) in their hostility and ignorance say such words against God. We have made every nation's deeds seem attractive to them. One day they will all return to their Lord who will inform them of all that they have done".Quran Sura 6:108
MUSLIMS ARE SO INTOLERANT towards NON MUSLIMS. Why don't we let expose our dark side to them. BE INTOLERANT TOWARDS THE INTOLERANT.
An admirable goal realized. I salute and praise these brave protestors; may their detractors be garroted and may the name of the Ayatullah Khomeini be ever praised!
Idolatry has no place in our peaceful nation! The creator of this deranged monument of heresy, is either an infidel or a Muslim of inferior breeding; he must be found and garroted on the spot!
Hilarious... how can a piece of stone get people so afraid! Object of worship? From an Islamic country like Pakistan? I'm sorry, I don't get it Dr. Bari...
Maldives has survived as a muslim country for hundreds of years of various religious, social, cultural enthnic upheavals. How can a small monument change our beliefs?
It is a shame on scholars and respected religious community leaders who studied in Pakistan to indirectly indicate other religions are being imposed on us!
It is a failure on the government to allow such imports of barred items by law.It shows simple incompetence of the Foreign Ministry.
As for the opposition or the public who broke and set fire on the monument, I have something to tell you.
Women slavery, child abuse and the use of religion and money for personal gains are some of the worst evils unacceptable by Islam and any other religions.
Children as young as 3 years have been sexually abused. Teenagers today are sex slaves abused in the name of money and career. Old women as old as 60 years have been raped, blind or disabled women are constant victims of sexual abuse. No girl aged 12 would be spared the wrath of pedophiles or those who use money, and religion to get what they want!
Did anyone of you come out on the streets to protest and fight for the rights and security of children and women? When a religious figure abused over 60 kids recently in Male while teaching them Quaran, Did anyone of you go to his house to protest the pain, agony and anger the little girls went through?
If the culprits were high on dope or alcohol,I would understand but otherwise, its a disgrace and a proof that No one cares much of what happens in darkness to small girls, and slaved house wives and the disabled. Many live secret lives and pretend to be good muslims. One day, I pray for the youth revolution against those who victimize the weak.
The Pakistanis did not mean anything negative...stupid enough we built Addu with their aid, we travel through addu with vehicles they donated and we treat our children in addu with medicines they gave FREE...
Take a minute and just give it a thought. We all live an insecure life of no savings, work without expertise, mounting tax bills, high prices of utilities, internet drug addiction, and soon....
You who set fire on the monumet. What are your priorities today in life, and has that deed made you a better person or guaranteed you a comfortable life?
where is the rule of law in this country. If people can take the law in to their hands then we are like pirates. to make things worse they are backed by the opposition politicians.
may be tomorrow people will start burning resorts for selling alcohol. This act has to be condemned. Even if it has Idolatrous images the authorities should be dealing with it, not the people. If then why do we need police and courts and a justice system. Nobody should take the law in to their hands, no matter what! This is an act of terrorism,
we should condemn this act and should not make this a precedent for people to take law in to their own hands.If I can blaze someones house on accusation of having a megazine with a picture of Budhhaa,and be a free man, I can also blaze someone accusing him of an idolator. Only ALLAH is the judge. We are worse then Mushriks of Qureysh, if we start doing these things.
Why are people falling for this crap? It's obvious to anybody with half a brain that this is nothing but an attemnpt by some politicians and religious leaders to control information and create conflict. Conflict and information control are invaluable tools to a sheikh or politician. ( but I guess in Maldivies they both go hand in hand)
This shows how barbaric the Maldivians are.
Utterly pathetic. Pea-brained idiots like Adhaalath and Mahloof should go and live in a cave in Afghanistan and drink goat's urine and rape their wives. Then they can good 'pure' Muslims.
so stupid behavior /just some people today still living in 10 century.
to destroy is much more easy than build something/
Barbarian fools..its art and culture, the monument has nothing to do with religion? plus Pakistan is a country of many religions..sad such a work of art is gone to waste.
protestors should have burnt the Pakistani PM yusuf raza gilani for unveiling the monument in our country.Why didnt he unveiled idolatry in his own country.
I wonder if any of these imbeciles have thought about doing the same thing to the cultural artefacts in the museum... let the iconoclasm begin.
It is not a surprise to see such Mullarish act in the so called the base of Mullahs in Maldives, Addu Hithadhoo. This is where the founders of Adalath were borne. These so called semiliterate Mullahs think that they have been selected by their Allah who is so vulnerable and need their help to safeguard his religion. We can never believe a religion that is so blindly believed by some illiterate Mullahs. These very act of barbarism incited by these Mullah are very proof that extremist Islam is very dangerous and it is against the human development and the followers of this religion will never catch-up with the human civilization.
This is what happens when people try to fit square pegs into round holes.
Call me what you want, but I for one, am happy that this monumnet was toppled and finally set ablaze.
Pkistan, if they have an ounce of brain tissue in their officials, should put a monumnet that suits better to our culture and our environment. Why are we fighting with our people because of something that we do not even need to have? Why Pakistan, do you hate peace?
the fornicator's, drunks, adultrators, child abusers etc are trying to agitate and make the true believers be shown voilent and picture them as so called "terrorists"!!! Asia Foundation and Dr.Waheed and his son would now be very happy to put across a report to their puppets with the Haj spy mission!!
Eh ves Eeman Theri Kameh Neh Meehun Mikahala Kanthah Kuraa Nee.
Its time that the true Muslims of this Country get ready to fight these ignorant people who create mischief in the name of Islam, they have no clue what Islam is.
If we don't take care of this menace, I believe Islamic religion will be wiped out of Maldives and each one of us who follow the true faith of Islam will be made to follow these idol worshipers of these religious groups.
We the monotheist of this country must wake up sooner than later or else we will go to hell with them.
These so called Muslims are punks in rag wolfs clothing are nothing but paid terrorists, they are destroying our children our women and the whole society, people wake up, if we don't this country is doomed, they will send us to stone age, where they belong, not amongst us believers who believe in the true words of Allah.
"Constitution" "Religious Unity act" How come these learned people can't quote verses of the Quran instead of these man made words to convince us that these monuments should not be in a society.
I have not have heard a single verse from Dr. Bari either, all he had to say was, customs should not have allowed into the country as its against the constitution as if this crap constitution is from Allah.
If you are such great scholars convince us.
Sura 6:108 - Revile not those whom they invoke besides Allah, lest they may spitefully revile Allah without knowledge. Thus fair-seeming unto every community We have made their work. Then unto their Lord is their return, and then He will declare unto them that which they were wont to work.
I just like to hear one verse from Quran that says all nation should be pure and free of all idolators or idols.
Problem is Crescent moon and the stars are item people worship which are in our National Flag, in our Peoples Majlis Flag and also in Adaalath Party Flag, I am told people worship "rats" here is the chance please go kill them pests, meantime please, Islamic scholars shed some light on this from the verses of Quran with regard to this matter.
Convince us that is all we are asking, WE I mean true believers in Islam and who call our selves proud Muslims.
Surely there must be a Pakistan representative in Maldives.
Ey yar, come on out, come out, give us Maldivians some sort of a statement with regard to the monument you handed over for SAARC.
Do you chaps worship Mohamed Ali Jinnah, we need help, the pressure in our bearded brothers are heading towards the heavens.
Or are these people angry that, what they worshiped in your country while they got their education in Pakistan Madharas are finally exposed to us Maldivians. I seriously wonder?
How dare these Adaalath Party and Progressive Party of Maldives calling for the people who did this to be released, who the hell do you people think you are, there is a damn law in this Country.
If the Government is in the wrong there are institutions to present your cases, we must not allow individuals or the government or groups or parties to take the law into their own hands and those who are advocating such act should be dealt with too.
If street hooligans can take law into there own hands we are no worst than Somalia and for AP and PPM to call for these offenders to be released without court procedure is unacceptable and is equally guilty, well Mr. Mahloaf the day when Executive, Law Makers and Judiciary were in your Spa partners pocket is over.
Don't try to act the Judge and Jury, such times are history, if the government not follow the judicial procedure on these offenders we can take the law into our hands as well and then let see who can create more havoc.
Why do we have to hand such an opportunity to PPM? They are looking at every single avenue to created trouble and conflict within our society. Their entire manifesto rests on violent confrontation and overthrow of an elected government.
Of course, it's ludicrous to suggest that this monument is against Islam. Are Maldivians claiming to be more Islamic than our brothers and sisters in Pakistan? Some of these idiots were of course brain washed in the extremists Madhrasas of Pakistan.
Now, I fully understand what President Nasheed was talking about, when he speaks of extremist elements in society. Can't get more extreme than this!
also lastnight, several mosques in addu were damaged and some of their electrical equipments stolen by people perceved as secularists.
ofcoure, this incident will not be reported by this islam hating minivan news.
Hilerious a muslim unveil a buddhist belong.its a slap for muslims.how come that mönument inside the country without goverment knowledge go for fairy tales these storys.
Maldives on a perfect course to religious anarchy thanks to the politicians and Jaahiliyya Mullas who is using religion for party politics and therefore personal gain... Little do they know they are destryong the future of their very own children... and therefore will achieve the opposite of the very things they seek - personal gain (assuming they love their children). If only they had the intellect to realise this...? May Allah help us all...
Even Mohamed (PUH) has said that not to attack on Churches or other religions' temple - this means to respect other ppl and their things even though they're not Muslims. In short Live & Let Live (with others).
Also, Quran says that to you be your religion and to them be theirs. This is the Supreme Verdict on such matters. NOBODY is ABOVE this and can say anything about it. THAT'S WHY Pakistan or OTHER Muslim COUNTRIES do have churches and non-Muslims are not in any harm.
EXTREMISTS are in contradiction to this and promotes and perpetrates such violence. Seems like there's such ppl here in Maldives. They believe that they're 'above' the SUPREME VERDICT. Also there's another party to encourage such activities and label such perpetrators as 'heroes'. SAD
The Islamic Empire also did not burn churches in Istanbul or else where when they conquered/annexed the place.
This shows what Gayoom and Yaameen is willing to go to get their hands back on government coffers. The police must arrest these "religious" idiots and ban adhaalath party. Kick Gayoom and Yameen between their legs.
The rule of law should prevail in this country. When people decide what action to take, on their own, they are taking the law into their own hands. That is illegal. Politicians and Political Parties should be banned from preaching or using religion as a political tool.
Looks like the government has sent their task force to publish comments in their favour on Minivan News.
Otherwise there is no reason why so many comments should be in the government's favour.
The general public is most certainly not welcoming this monument. Many are happy that it was set ablaze.
@me
Ah, and the lies start coming out of the muslim's mouth. What's the islamic word for it? Taqiyya, was it?
why do i get the feeling that all these ppl who comment negatively about the protests are somehow stupid, pea-brained morons who are arrogant and ignorant at the same time?
The problem here is that all these kaafir nutters do not understand that we muslims do have a problem with statutes of birds and beasts! even if the statute represented our beloved prophet, even then we would protest againsts it. if we do not fight this time, then they will come with statutes of Nasir, Mohamed Ameen, Afeef Didi, and later Maumoon and Anni also. Do we want these persons budhus erected with great expense all over the country? If we allow these monuments this time, then we sure will have these buddhas filling every public square very soon.
@Rooster
It's probably more because Minivannews is targeted to and attracts a certain kind of audience - rather than the government sending a "task force". What a stupid thing to say.
have any one thought asking the statue who threw the stones?
It is may be OK if these Mullahs only talk about their rubbish, but this is way too much to tolerate these brain dead animals when they take things in to their hand. Tomorrow if someone says Allah is crazy, these Allah’s deputies will cut of his head. Are we in the era of inquisition? Who the hell they think to decide if we love Buddah and hate Allah, it is our right. Some Maldivian may like artifact, cultures, and wants to lives free out of religious bondage, what is wrong with that. If I put Buddha’s statue in my House will these crazy people vandalize my house? If someone puts a monument in to represent our old history, what it takes someone to be so mad about it. This is beyond any reasonable thinking that people can be so much crazy
Imran of Adhaalath party tells such blatant lies just to acheive a political point. Is lying allowed in Imraans "Islam".
This is utterly shameful. But such incidents are not going to stop here. PPM and Adhaalath have no issue to criticize the MDP-led coalition govt. So they will use "religious card" till 2013 elections are over.
Addu RAF memorial has a ground mount cannon with a crown at the top. The crown has the shape of a cross..SO why is it still kept in our god beloved muslim country?why werent any surveys done on how many accepted Christianity because of that cross?
PPM will give absolute defense for the persons under question??? WTF..
Ladies and gentlemen! There you have witnessed today the true face of politics.
Blam the religion for your own need. Atleast now we know who was behind this whole drama
Putting shame on the nation...I guess our politicians are more dumber than i thought... The monument they burned today was a monument of Jawahar Lal Nehru; we can call him, father of Pakistan. The people who fought for a country's freedom. Now we've gone there drunk with political motive and set it ablaze..clearly they should know the outcome of this horrible act.Gamaaru.
Now there goes our foreign diplomacy outta the window. The citizens should just bloody come out n kill those pple involved in this thing.
Why those barbarian imbeciles cannot understand that monument it is arts and memory about historical events?
and it is stupid to create religion problems from that.
Many (Hawittha) from Buddist era of Maldives was destroying too before and it is so stupid because it is history of Maldives and part of world culture too/
if you destroy your history you destroy yours self/
why you so agressive if you say Islam it is religion of peace?you was create nothing but you try to eliminate everything that many generation build before you/Any art it is heritage for future generation/ i imagine that if such idiots have power and visit Europe they will destroy all the museum and beautiful monuments /
In Egypt many muslims but they do not destroy pyramids because it is part of history and they proud because of that .
sad state of social and religious affairs in this country, when this becomes the headline after the major development that took place by hosting SAARC summit in Addu.
We are also seriously loosing focus of development and getting engrossed in petty issues which has no serious consequence to anyone.
Can MN get a response from Pakistan High Commission in Male' regarding this attack? I am sure all of you would want to know what have they got to say regarding this act of Maldivians. Maldivians are hypocrits, youre economy depends on tourism where non muslims are treated with alcohol and you see their nude body on your beaches. But you just can't tolerate a simple monument on your island. The face of Jinnah on the monument just resembles he is the father of that nation, not a God to all the foolish maldivians. The opposition is playing the religious game to corrupt maldivian minds. Will the opposition rule our country like the way taliban ruled afghanistan, if they win the election? I doubt so, so why do all this drama.
Good story for Minivann News. Just the type of religious story that you need. Expecting many more versions of this story here.
you know the fact of the matter is that these mullahs will do everything in their power to take Maldives back to the dark ages where everyone will be riding camels to work and drinking milk straight from the goats udder.
cause apparently that's what Mohamed did in the past, so it stands to reason that they (Muslims) are a people stuck in the past and don't want to do anything for the future... after all they are the promoters of death.
all they do is talk about (a life that they have not seen) AFTER death of the mortal body, the ever lasting glory that awaits them AFTER death. to them there is no future and so how can they appreciate art or culture or the like, what they want in life is death.
Anything about this monument, as I would believe, is a matter that requires to be resolved diplomatically and thoughtfully.
If you sheikhs think, and believe, that this monument, may pave way for idolators erupting from this country, or perhaps expatriates may start visiting it for worship, and or locals may follow suite, why not do it yourselves? Why put innocent victims in harms way?
@maxed4901
Jawahar Lal Nehru.......father of Pakistan?
Where were you educated moron.......some madrassa in Pakistan?
History clearly was not your strong point in school. The Father of Pakistan is MOHAMMAD ALI JINNAH..........poor man must be turning in his grave at the state of Pakistan today.
Haveeru reports half of the monument has been stolen. They have a picture too showing the top part of the monument missing. But here MN says its been ablaze on fire. Which site is giving the right new?
Whose more Islamic? We are more islamic, then even the Islamic republic of Pakistan. Seriously we are no longer just interested in doing good and being good muslims, we want to show off to others about who can be more islamic by doing the most idiotic things. PPM and Adhaalath really need to learn a bit about world affairs, they are going around accusing an islamic country of putting in a monument to secretly convert muslims in this land.
So sad that the government allowed an artefact donated by a foreign country to be destroyed. Every knew that this was going to happen after several attempts were made at destroying it during the SAARC Summit. We know we have a government that does not give a damn but what was the police doing?
One backward intolerant muslim country (Maldives) showing intolerance towards another backward intolerant muslim country (Pakistan)............I am a bit confused by this and need to lie down.............
Thank God they didn't decide to torch Sri Lankan president His Excellency Rajapakse for quoting Lord Buddha on the SAARC opening day speech.
This is just insane. Being a Muslim, I feel sad but I can understand why people no longer believe that Islam is a peaceful religion.
Seen this debate?
http://intelligencesquaredus.org/index.php/past-debates/islam/#dm-col-a